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 email us @ playitsafearomas@yahoo.com

Visit our website:  www.playitsafearomas.com

Does your child come home with black soot on his/her face, hands and clothes?  Do you ever wonder just what is in that soot? For starters, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, also known as PAHs (likely carcinogens) and lovely Phthalates (chemicals that affect hormones). Is your child too young to scrub off the soot adequately before eating lunch? What's an acceptable level of exposure when the exposure is 100% avoidable? 

It just doesn't make sense. Ask yourself...How much thought did the tire engineers give in regards to whether or not the chemicals utilized would be safe for our developing children to play in?  They were probably more concerned about how they would hold up on the road. We know the EPA had worries about tires piling up in landfills and catching fire.  We know grants were given out to help schools purchase this miracle solution for the EPA's tire waste problem. Ta-Da! Shredded tire mulch for playgrounds everywhere. This is a nationwide problem that has a lot of attention. And for good reason.

We know in 2007, The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) conducted studies to investigate potential health risks from playground surfaces made from recycled tires. One such study intended to mimic a child's contact with the tire shreds. Five chemicals, including four PAHs, were found on tested samples. One known as "chrysene" was found in higher than acceptable levels set by the OEHHA, and therefore, could increase your risk of  cancer.1

In a 2010 meeting convened by the EPA, together with various state and federal agencies, it was concluded that in the case of PAHs,  based on laboratory findings, "breathing PAHs and skin contact seem to be associated with cancer in humans."2,3 

So, real simple.  We know the tire shreds have PAHs because of the 2007 OEHHA studies and as of 2010 the EPA is saying PAHs likely cause cancer in humans. So what are we waiting for?!?  Are we waiting for them to tell us its only a minor amount of toxic chemicals that our kids are absorbing? Toxic playground equipment is a very avoidable risk.  Its 100% unnecessary. Please! Demand better for Aromas and San Juan Unified Schools. DEMAND better for our children! DEMAND a non-toxic alternative!

Sign Away,

-Play it Safe Aromas and San Juan Unified School (Search for us on Facebook. Same name. Check us out!)

We also have a GoFundMe page to help raise money for the removal/ replacement because we all know how hard it is to get the government to pay for anything. Here is the link: https://www.gofundme.com/playitsafearomas

1. State of California-Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), Contractor’s Report to the Board. Evaluation of Health Effects of Recycled Waste Tires in Playground and Track Products. January 2007. http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/publications/Documents/Tires%5C62206013.pdf Accessed May 2016.

2. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)-Fact Sheet. November 2009. https://www.epa.gov/north-birmingham-project/polycyclic-aromatic-hydrocarbons-pahs-fact-sheet Accessed May 2016. 

3. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons. September 1996. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts69.pdf Accessed May 2016.